Next steps for redevelopment of former UTC building in Newhaven to be discussed

Proposals to purchase and redevelop the former UTC building in Newhaven are set to go before Lewes council leaders later this month. 
Former UTC Newhaven buildingFormer UTC Newhaven building
Former UTC Newhaven building

On September 24, Lewes District Council is set to consider proposals connected to a project to redevelop the vacant UTC@harbourside building in Newhaven Harbour, bringing it back into use as a “multi-purpose hub”. 

In June the council was provisionally offered £1.3m from the government’s Getting Building Fund to redevelop the building. In August, senior council officers agreed to commit up to £500,000 as match funding.

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In a report to cabinet, a council officer said: “Following the Executive Member Decision, officers are moving quickly to appoint necessary external professionals, such as a cost consultant, to begin defining the scope of works and costs.

“Finalising the detail of users would need to take place at the same time so that a detailed specification of works can be developed – this is likely to include strip out of some areas, including laboratory spaces and some internal partitioning, separation of mechanical services to provide climate control areas, additional cooling, and refurbishment to allow fit out of hub spaces.

“Subject to the success of the bid and necessary legal arrangements being in place, it is anticipated that works could commence in January 2021 with a 12- month programme.”

According to council papers, the redevelopment would create a multi-purpose hub – providing space for a number of different educational, technological, commercial and public service organisations.

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Part of the building would be used to offer education and commercial training facilities alongside space for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) working in the marine sector.

It would also provide space for a range of public service and education providers with a central reception area.

There would also be a small number of units for private commercial rents.

Cabinet members are now being asked to authorise the acquisition of the building’s lease as part of the project. 

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The current ownership of the UTC building is somewhat complicated, being split into a freehold as well as both a head-lease of 999 years and a sub-lease of 250 years. 

The sub-lease is held by UTC@harbourside, while the headlease is owned by Newhaven Construction Limited.

If given the go ahead by cabinet members, the council will look into either acquiring control of both leases or just the sublease.

Any variation or purchase of the sub-lease would require the consent of the headlease owner.

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The meeting report said: “There is a potentially cleaner way of acquiring the site through the purchase of the head-lease itself together with the acquisition of the sublease.

“The council would then become the owner of the head-lease (as tenant) and the sub-lease could be “merged” into the head-lease title (ie. brought to an end).

“Whilst any restrictions and tenant obligations in the head-lease would still apply, acquiring the head-lease would remove the need for potentially complex lease arrangements with a number of different parties, providing the Council with ownership of a strategic additional area of Railway Quay and make future build and use considerations easier.”

A decision is set to be made at a cabinet meeting on September 24. But before that, the proposals are set to be considered by the council’s recently-formed performance and policy advisory committee next Tuesday (September 15).

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